Metals Data Response Global Aluminium Production (Dec. & 2016) According to the International Aluminium Institute (IAI), global primary aluminium output rose by 7.8% y/y last month, up from 3% y/y in November, led by a whopping 14.2% y/y jump in China’s... 23rd January 2017 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Economics Update MENA sovereigns line up dollar bond sales The recent pull-back in US Treasury yields has prompted several MENA sovereigns to push ahead with their plans to issue dollar debt. With the Fed likely to hike interest rates more aggressively in... 23rd January 2017 · 1 min read
US Housing Market Update Will the young ever move out? Despite an improving economic backdrop, the share of young adults living with their parents increased yet again in 2016. In part, that may reflect the influence of structural demographic factors as... 23rd January 2017 · 1 min read
US Chart Pack America first President Donald Trump’s inauguration speech left no one in any doubt that his administration will pursue trade protectionism aggressively. He argued for putting “America first” and that “protection... 23rd January 2017 · 1 min read
China Chart Pack Signs of strength in labour market In contrast to China’s remarkably stable GDP figures, data on the labour market corroborate evidence from elsewhere that the economy strengthened in recent quarters. China created over 13 million new... 23rd January 2017 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Is political uncertainty taking a toll on the Dutch economy? The tightening of credit standards in the Netherlands suggests that political uncertainty may be having an impact on economic conditions. The chance of eurosceptics gaining power is limited and the... 23rd January 2017 · 1 min read
Emerging Markets Economics Update Few EMs at risk from a major drop in US FDI US foreign direct investment flows into most major EMs aren’t particularly large and a significant portion are concentrated in the mining and financial sectors. These are unlikely to be disrupted even... 23rd January 2017 · 1 min read
Industrial Metals Update China’s metals imports reflect mine supply trends The pattern of China’s trade in industrial metals and ores in 2016 was determined in part by trends in global mine supply. Lower mine output of some ores was a factor curbing imports, but higher US... 23rd January 2017 · 1 min read
Japan Economics Focus Has the Bank of Japan finished easing? With the recent improvement in the inflation outlook, the Bank of Japan is unlikely to ease further in 2017 but any speculation about policy tightening will prove premature. In fact, the Bank’s pledge... 23rd January 2017 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Data Response Saudi Arabia Consumer Prices (Dec.) Saudi inflation fell further at the end of last year as the decline in food prices steepened. Inflation is likely to ease a little further in the first few months of 2017, but fresh subsidy cuts will... 23rd January 2017 · 1 min read
China Economics Update Service sector ends 2016 on a strong note China’s GDP data are widely maligned. But one area where the figures are useful is in the detail they provide on the service sector. The full breakdown published over the weekend points to broad based... 23rd January 2017 · 1 min read
India Chart Pack Attention turns to state elections Upcoming state elections in India are likely to have an important bearing on economic policy at the local level. But perhaps more significant, the outcome of the state elections could be crucial in... 23rd January 2017 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update Venezuela’s 2016 meltdown among the worst on record Unconfirmed reports suggesting that Venezuelan GDP contracted by a staggering 19% in 2016 would mean that the country experienced the biggest one-year fall in output of any major EM in modern history... 20th January 2017 · 1 min read
Commodities Weekly Commodity prices take a breather The prices of most commodities eased back this week. Agricultural commodities fared slightly better, primarily on the back of weather-related concerns about supply. Data released on Friday confirming... 20th January 2017 · 1 min read
UK Economics Update Brexit Watch: Pound welcomes May’s Brexit plans The unveiling of the Government’s broad plans for Brexit helped to drive the pound higher this week. However, this probably largely reflects a slight reduction in uncertainty, rather than optimism... 20th January 2017 · 1 min read
